The Lagos State Government says it arrested 10,634 environmental offenders within one year as part of efforts to improve sanitation and enforce environmental laws across the state.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the ministry’s Director of Public Affairs, Kunle Adeshina, the commissioner said 5,715 persons were arrested for illegal highway crossing, while 3,886 others were apprehended for offences such as street trading, environmental pollution and cart pushing.
Wahab added that 102 persons were arrested for open defecation, while 931 others were apprehended for waste management-related offences.
He said the enforcement exercise formed part of the state government’s efforts to build a cleaner and healthier environment in line with the THEMES Plus Agenda.
“The ministry also intensified enforcement activities through its agencies, leading to the arrest and prosecution of environmental offenders, removal of illegal traders and squatters, and issuance of environmental abatement notices across the state,” Wahab said.
The commissioner also said the state recorded progress in waste management and environmental sustainability through partnerships and recycling initiatives.
According to him, the government signed 12 new partnerships focused on environmental sustainability and strengthened monitoring and enforcement against indiscriminate waste disposal.
Wahab disclosed that the state commissioned the Ikosi Waste-to-Energy Biodigester Plant at the Ketu Fruit Market to convert organic waste into electricity, cooking gas and fertiliser.
He explained that the facility processes 0.5 tonnes of organic waste daily and generates 30kWh of electricity for lighting and cold storage.
The commissioner further stated that the state maintained its ban on Styrofoam and single-use plastics, adding that 137,530.94kg of PET plastics had been removed from the environment through recycling and recovery initiatives.
On climate action, Wahab said Lagos retained its position as Nigeria’s top-performing state in climate governance for the second consecutive year and hosted the 2025 Lagos International Climate Change Summit.
He added that more than 100 air quality monitoring sensors had been installed across the state, while cleaner fish processing technology was introduced in Makoko to reduce smoke emissions.
Speaking on flood control measures, the commissioner said the ministry cleaned and maintained 18 primary drainage channels covering 76 kilometres, as well as secondary channels spanning 178 kilometres across the state.
He added that emergency flood abatement operations were also carried out in flood-prone areas covering about 210 kilometres.
Wahab said the achievements reflected the commitment of the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to improving the living conditions of residents.
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